Prep wrestling: Mat-inee idols in double feature

High school wrestlers take over the Colorado State Fairgrounds this weekend with two regional tournaments scheduled at the Southwest Motors Events Center.

The Class 4A Region 2 and Class 2A Region 4 state-qualifying tourneys will be held side by side beginning today.

Opening-round matches start at 1 p.m., followed by quarterfinals at 3:30 p.m. The semifinals are scheduled at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and the championship matches at 3:30 p.m.

On six mats (three per classification), wrestling will go on nonstop as the region’s qualifiers for next week’s state tournament in Denver are determined.

The 4A regional features three of the state’s top 10 4A teams — South (ranked No. 4), Central (No. 7) and Mesa Ridge (No. 10).

The tourney also has three top-ranked 4A wrestlers — South 113-pounder Michael Ramirez (33-7) and Central’s Keenan Wyatt (35-4 at 145 pounds) and Evan Lancelot (33-2 at 220). All three were state place-finishers last year.

South reigning state champ Isaac Naro (30-3) is ranked third going into the postseason tournaments.

While most of Pueblo’s schools are competing in the Region 2 tournament, Pueblo County will compete against Western Slope schools in the Region 4 tournament at Montrose.

The Hornets, rated No. 8 in the final 4A rankings, are led by two top-ranked wrestlers — Grant Willits (26-3 at 106) and Chris Sandoval (32-1 at 120) and No. 2s Hunter Willits (38-2 at 132) and Keenan Willits (38-2 at 160).

The 2A regional will showcase four top 10 teams in No. 3 Baca County, a consolidated team from Springfield and Walsh, No. 5 Rocky Ford, No. 7 Crowley County and No. 9 Swink.

Baca County’s Johnny Loflin is the reigning state champ at 195 pounds, while 120-pounder Stetson Loader was a state runner-up last year.